After breaking down the doors of a warehouse at 709 S. First Street, St. Louis firefighters had to retreat because of the intense heat and flame coming from the building in the warehouse district near the St. Louis riverfront on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. Over 80 firefighters were called to the scene. No one was injured. (AP Photo/The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, J.B. Forbes) less

After breaking down the doors of a warehouse at 709 S. First Street, St. Louis firefighters had to retreat because of the intense heat and flame coming from the building in the warehouse district near the St. ... more

Photo: J.B. Forbes, Associated Press

After breaking down the doors of a warehouse at 709 S. First... Photo-5609707.76272 - SFGate

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Lucas Handy of the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade cuts trees and brush on Sycamore Canyon only a few miles from the Pfeiffer Ridge on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, in Big Sur, Calif. The wildfire burning Monday in the Big Sur area of California destroyed at least 15 homes and forced about 100 people to evacuate as it chewed through dry vegetation on its way toward the ocean. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) less

Lucas Handy of the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade cuts trees and brush on Sycamore Canyon only a few miles from the Pfeiffer Ridge on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, in Big Sur, Calif. The wildfire burning Monday in the ... more

Vice President Joe Biden speaks in the Roosevelt Room the White House in Washington, Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, before administering a ceremonial oath of office to Katherine Archuleta, standing behind second from left, to be the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Former Transportation Secretary Federico Pena is second from right. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) less

Vice President Joe Biden speaks in the Roosevelt Room the White House in Washington, Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, before administering a ceremonial oath of office to Katherine Archuleta, standing behind second from ... more

VACAVILLE, CA - DECEMBER 16: (Editorial Use Only) George Whitfield, age 56, uses a walker to walk back to his cell block at California State Prison, Solano, on December 16, 2013 in Vacaville, California. This is Whitfield's fourth time in prison - his current sentence is six years. He was sentenced for possession of narcotics with intent to sell and an illegal firearm. Whitfield denies the charges, saying police searched his house without presenting a warrant and only found marijuana that he used personally and a firearm he kept in his home. His previous three sentences, dating back to 1989, were allegedly for possession of marijuana, which he says he has only used recreationally. According to Whitfield, he suffered a stroke in 2007, which now forces him to use a walker. He also suffers from high blood pressure and has recently experienced numbness in his left arm. While Whitfield believes the prison officials at Solano are "fair, they're only doing their job," he also laments, "they should have sent me to rehab...they're not trying to save my life, they're trying to ruin it." He continued, "I believe in second chances, I would love to see [some of my fellow inmates] go home - they don't belong in here. This is overkill....we're still human." As of June 2013, the state of California had 133,000 prisoners, of which approximately 15,000 were over the age of 55. According to a 2012 Human Rights Watch Report, "incarcerated men and women typically have physiological and mental health conditions that are associated with people at least a decade older in the community. The U.S. incarcerates more people than any other country, with the number of inmates increasing 42 percent between 1995 and 2010, according to Human Rights Watch, and the number of prisoners 55-and-older skyrocketing by 282 percent. The increases are blamed on the 'tough on crime' and the 'war on drugs' policies enacted in the 1970s through the 1990s. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) ** less

VACAVILLE, CA - DECEMBER 16: (Editorial Use Only) George Whitfield, age 56, uses a walker to walk back to his cell block at California State Prison, Solano, on December 16, 2013 in Vacaville, California. This ... more

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 16: Volunteers help decorate a Christmas tree near the apex of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial on the National Mall December 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. Messages and ornaments from schoolchildren across the U.S. were used to decorate the tree, which will be on display throughout the holiday season. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) less

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 16: Volunteers help decorate a Christmas tree near the apex of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial on the National Mall December 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. Messages and ornaments from ... more

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 16: An United States Postal Office employee carries a bin of mail at the Processing and Distribution Center on December 16, 2013 in San Francisco, California. An estimated 6 million customers are expected to visit post offices nationwide on what the Postal Service anticipates to be the busiest day of the holiday season as they predict to process 607 million pieces of mail, up from the average 545 million pieces.(Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images) less

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 16: An United States Postal Office employee carries a bin of mail at the Processing and Distribution Center on December 16, 2013 in San Francisco, California. An estimated 6 ... more

Photo: Stephen Lam, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 16: An United States Postal Office... Photo-5609706.76272 - SFGate

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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 16: General view of atmosphere during Hot 99.5Â's Jingle Ball 2013, presented by Overstock.com, at Verizon Center on December 16, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Clear Channel) less

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 16: General view of atmosphere during Hot 99.5Â's Jingle Ball 2013, presented by Overstock.com, at Verizon Center on December 16, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty ... more

Arapahoe High School students hug after leaving items at a makeshift tribute site three days after a shooting attack at the school in Centennial, Colo., Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. They are, left to right, Hannah Eddy, Gavyn Bills, and Vania Arevalo. During the attack, the shooter shot a classmate in the head at close range with a shotgun, before killing himself. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) less

Arapahoe High School students hug after leaving items at a makeshift tribute site three days after a shooting attack at the school in Centennial, Colo., Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. They are, left to right, Hannah ... more

Photo: Brennan Linsley, Associated Press

Arapahoe High School students hug after leaving items at a... Photo-5609711.76272 - SFGate

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Taboola Gallery Frame Item-85307.76272 - SFGate

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Demonstrators hold signs during a protest at Amazon.com Inc. headquarters in Seattle, Washington, U.S., on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. Amazon.com Inc. workers in Germany sent a delegation to the company's Seattle headquarters to reinforce strikes demanding higher pay and a better work environment, the Verdi union said. Photographer: David Ryder/Bloomberg less

Demonstrators hold signs during a protest at Amazon.com Inc. headquarters in Seattle, Washington, U.S., on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. Amazon.com Inc. workers in Germany sent a delegation to the company's Seattle ... more

Donja Rodriguez, a member of the Brownsville Animal Defense got a kiss from a shelter dog, Monday, Dec. 16,2 013. Brownsville Animal Defense president, Tesse Sarmiento and Wendy Conger, Secretary for the organization and Edward Gilbert, Animal Care Tech look on. The rescue group bought 72 Kuranda dog beds to supply each kennel in the Brownsville Animal Shelter. The group is also hosting 'Happy Christmas Tails Saturday, Dec. 21 at the Brownsville Animal Shelter. The rescuers are asking for monetary donations, as well as dog food,towels,toys,dog shampoo and blankets. (AP Photo/The Brownsville Herald,Brad Doherty) less

Donja Rodriguez, a member of the Brownsville Animal Defense got a kiss from a shelter dog, Monday, Dec. 16,2 013. Brownsville Animal Defense president, Tesse Sarmiento and Wendy Conger, Secretary for the ... more